“I know you’re reading.” Shaw let his hand slow. Linger. His index finger only now, rubbing the most sensitive spot.

“Jesus Christ.” North had white-knuckled grip on the sofa now. His other hand clutched the book so tightly that pages were pulling free from the glue on the spine.

“I don’t want to interrupt,” Shaw said.

North tossed the book and rolled onto his side, gathering a handful of Shaw’s tee and yanking him forward, kissing him.

“You are so much fucking trouble sometimes,” North growled as he dragged off Shaw’s clothing.

2

IT HAD BEEN a long day, and North’s lower back was aching from the shit spot he’d chosen for surveillance. He’d spent most of the day watching a sporting equipment executive, and the only decent view of the man’s office had been in the building opposite, looking out of a window at an angle that had twisted North’s back. He lay on the sofa in his living room now, a beer sweating on the coffee table, listening to the news on TV.

The front door opened, and Shaw’s familiar tread moved through the duplex. With him came the smell of garlic, tomatoes, and meat.

“I brought the pizza,” Shaw said.

“Thank God.”

“Oh,” Shaw said, poking his head into the living room. “You’re in here. Hey, are you ok?”

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Just a little sore.”

Shaw nodded. “From mixing cement all day.”

“Here we go.”

“And then carrying it up on the crane.”

“Right. That’s what we do on a job site.”

“And then you probably had to rivet a few I-beams into place.”

“More than a few, in fact.”

“And you and the guys probably had to set up some of those white-and-orange collapsible traffic barricades around an open manhole.”

“After I finished riveting, yeah.” North narrowed his eyes. “Are you done?”

“That’s what the girls said as you and your buddies catcalled them.”

North grinned, and then he whistled. “Want a ride, baby?” he called, tugging at his crotch.

“North! You wouldn’t actually say that kind of stuff, would you?”

“Why are you taking the Metrolink, sweet cheeks, when you can get on the F train for free?”

“That’s really sexist.”

“Turn around, bitch, let me see that fine pussy.”

“North!”

North shrugged.

“You can’t say stuff like that.”

“Come over here and stop me.”